Studies of eye movements have evolved from clinical phenomenology to a probe of neural circuitry, cognition, and behavior offering a powerful, noninvasive window into nervous system function. In Parkinson's disease (PD), ocular motor control has emerged as a uniquely informative model system, reflecting dysfunction across motor, cognitive, and executive domains. Recent advances span four interconnected areas: executive behavior and cognition, gait and freezing of gait (FOG), neuromodulation, and machine learning. Antisaccades and related paradigms reveal early and progressive executive dysfunction in PD, linked to dopaminergic disruption of fronto-striatal and basal ganglia circuits. Naturalistic eye-tracking metrics further act as proxy markers of cognition, planning, and emotion processing. Oculomotor abnormalities also have direct functional consequences for visual search, walking, turning, and FOG, with shared neural substrates in frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and mesencephalic locomotor networks. Deep brain stimulation provides causal insight into these circuits, demonstrating target-, parameter-, and task-specific trade-offs between motor facilitation and inhibitory control. Finally, machine learning and emerging virtual reality (VR)- and mobile-based eye-tracking technologies enable high-dimensional analysis, early diagnosis, cognitive staging, and prognostic prediction, including identification of prodromal FOG. Collectively the research has offered scalable biomarkers and mechanistic insight that bridge cognition, movement, and neuromodulation.

This contribution proposes a conceptual framework for quantum relations understood as operator-based, scale-dependent semantic structures. It explores the “fractaquantum” hypothesis, emphasizing that nature exhibits quantum properties at all scales, from subatomic particles to social structures. Using Pauli operators, we propose a semantic theory of quantum relations based on the “semiotic square” and on eigenlogic. The "two one-half spin" quantum composition defines the exchange operator at the basis of fundamental quantum relations. The approach is applied to macroscopic phenomena such as “social lasers” and the rhythmic “breathing” of entanglement, suggesting that individuality and social coherence are governed by scale-invariant quantum principles. This project aims to unify several quantum-like approaches under a common relational paradigm and highlights the role of fractal scaling, contextuality, non-commutativity, exchange, indistinguishability and entanglement in the emergence of semantic relations across physical, cognitive, social and artistic domains.

ABSTRACT This paper examines punishment in the Philippines as a penal project shaped by colonial rule, carceral expansion, and the continuing dominance of retributive justice. It argues that, despite the rise of rehabilitative and restorative approaches elsewhere, the Philippine criminal legal system remains strongly oriented towards moral censure, punitive containment, and the uneven punishment of marginalised populations. Drawing on Foucauldian scholarship, postcolonial and decolonial criminology, and historical criminology, the paper traces how Spanish and American colonial administrations institutionalised punishment through spectacle, discipline, and racialised governance. It shows how these logics persist in prolonged pre-trial detention, overcrowded jails, selective criminalisation, and harsh sentencing. The paper also critiques rehabilitative and therapeutic discourses, particularly in drug policy, arguing that they often extend carceral power rather than disrupt it. In response, it turns to abolitionist critiques and Liu’s relational paradigm to argue for a penal future grounded in repair, collective responsibility, and culturally resonant forms of justice.

Contemporary recruitment practices remain dominated by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that operate on elimination logic, sequentially filtering candidates through keyword gates and multiple-hurdle screenings. While efficient at reducing applicant volume, this paradigm systematically discards potentially suitable candidates and degrades the quality of information available to hiring decisions. This paper introduces Applicant Relationship Management (ARM), a relational paradigm for talent acquisition derived from Customer Relationship Management (CRM) theory. ARM reconceptualises applicants as stakeholders in a co-creative assessment process, replacing sequential elimination with compensatory multi-dimensional evaluation, dialogue-based interaction, and sustained relationship management including silver medallist re-engagement. Drawing on stakeholder theory, relationship marketing, and compensatory assessment science, we develop the ARM framework and its lifecycle model. We then examine its implications for emerging regulatory and sustainability reporting frameworks, including the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (which classifies recruitment AI as high-risk from August 2026), the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 10, and the CSRD/ESRS S1 workforce disclosure standards. Preliminary evidence from a pilot platform implementation is reported alongside explicit boundary conditions and a future research agenda with testable propositions. The paper contributes to recruitment theory by proposing a paradigm shift from transactional processing to relational cultivation, and to management practice by offering a framework that aligns operational effectiveness with regulatory compliance and applicant dignity

Toward a relational paradigm for AI safety: relational synchrony in the heart-inspired dual-layer architecture (HIDLA)

Deconstructing the monolith that is referred to as “nature” involves a continual process of evaluating the knowledge systems that contribute to producing our social, political, and cultural worlds. The human/nature dualism, which is manufactured by Western knowledge, is expressed in outdoor recreation as participants and nature are often dominated and exploited. Ecofeminism offers an approach for understanding the human/nature dualism and how it is articulated through outdoor recreation. While ecofeminism has been critiqued for its lack of intersectional approaches, decolonial feminisms help advance ecofeminist arguments. In this way, ecofeminism offers a relational paradigm where nature and people are part of a co-constitutive process in which we construct our realities and relations with each other. This paper advances ecofeminisms by integrating decolonial feminisms and identifies three specific applications for outdoor recreation research and practice.

Despite substantial clinical progress under the biomedical paradigm, global oral disease burdens remain high, highlighting the need for integrated and context-sensitive models. This critical review examines how systems sciences can contribute to redefining dentistry's role within contemporary health systems. While systems thinking dates back nearly a century, its application to dental research and policy has expanded significantly in recent years. The objectives of this review are to assess the relevance of systems sciences in addressing current health challenges involving dentistry and to analyze how these approaches have informed dental science and practice to date. Based on a thematic analysis of the literature, the review identifies emerging conceptual frameworks, practical applications across multiple dental domains, and areas requiring further exploration. The review distinguishes between predictive approaches, such as simulation and modeling, and relational paradigms rooted in interdependence, context, and goal-oriented dynamics. It documents recent applications of these frameworks in public health, clinical planning, education, environmental strategy, and patient care. Three widely shared assumptions are finally revisited through systems sciences perspectives: the framing of "oral health" as an isolated individual outcome, the dichotomy between "prevention" and "treatment," and the notion that oral diseases are largely "preventable." While such assumptions may serve communication or policy purposes, they can obscure structural determinants and limit systemic integration of actions against the burden of oral diseases. Systems sciences provide methodological and conceptual tools to reposition dentistry as a contributor to broader health goals: reducing population-level treatment needs, improving access, and addressing upstream determinants of health. Rather than promoting technical growth alone, dental research should place greater emphasis on systemic approaches to ensure that available resources effectively serve population needs. As a scientific framework, systems sciences are not only compatible with these aims but are also essential to achieving them in a coherent, evidence-based, and socially relevant manner.

Automation in Cyber–Physical Systems (CPS) is undergoing a structural transformation, disrupted by recent technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual/Augmented Reality (AR/VR), 5/6G, etc. However, an entire paradigm shift is on the horizon, pushing automation beyond traditional borders and towards operation environments where conditions change, uncertainty is high, or data are unstructured. To this end, regardless of the specific application domain, achieving superior responsiveness, autonomy, and resilience will require an Artificial Intelligence (AI) no longer confined to the application or Cloud layer. Instead, intelligence must be natively shared and coordinated across devices, system service, application software, and even the network itself. Therefore, this perspective paper argues that an intriguing direction for intelligent automation is represented from what we term the Intelligence Continuum: a seamless integration of Edge AI, Smart Networking, and Cloud AI, jointly operating under the principles of Continuum Computing and Network Intelligence. We first outline the limitations of current architectures and related paradigms in dealing with complex Cyber-Physical Ecosystems (CPeS). Then, we articulate the need for a cross-layer AI to support an application-centric design philosophy with a unified control loop, jointly considering computation and communication across the continuum. Hence, we highlight the enabling and operational role of Digital Twins as the glue and substrate of next-generation intelligent CPeS. Finally, we discuss key research challenges, implications, and future directions for achieving continuum-native intelligent automation.

The article examines the process of degradation of the managerial and political elites of the United States of America and the European Union in the context of the systemic transformation of the global political and economic architecture. The author analyzes the causes of the weakening quality of strategic and administrative governance in the West, including the loss of personnel continuity, the erosion of professional standards, and the dominance of short-term electoral interests over longterm planning. Special attention is given to the impact of internal socio-political contradictions, the ideologization of foreign policy, and the crisis of value legitimacy on the ability of Western elites to maintain a stable international dialogue. The article substantiates the thesis that the degradation of Western elites is not a partial but a systemic phenomenon, driven by the exhaustion of the liberal globalist model and the institutional aging of Western democracies. It concludes that the restoration of a full-fl edged interstate dialogue is possible only through the formation of a new paradigm of international relations based on the principles of equality, cultural pluralism, and strategic realism.

The aim of the article is to develop theoretical foundations and generalize strategic approaches to staff development in the context of digital transformation and globalization processes, as well as to identify key vectors for the development and improvement of the human resources management system, taking into account modern challenges and opportunities of the digital economy. The methodological basis of the study is built on the synthesis of general scientific and special methods, supplemented by empirical tools for data collection and analysis, which guarantees the comprehensiveness, objectivity and reliability of the results obtained. The study provides a thorough analysis of the transformation of HR processes under the influence of digital technologies, in particular the use of artificial intelligence, big data processing systems, specialized HR platforms, VR/AR solutions and online educational environments. It is shown that these tools contribute to the modernization of recruiting, improvement of personnel assessment procedures, personalization of training and more efficient management of employee career growth. Emphasis is placed on the need to create a culture of continuous learning, develop digital competencies, stimulate motivation and form adaptive forms of employment that meet the challenges of the turbulent global market. It is substantiated that the integration of innovative HR technologies contributes to increasing productivity, optimizing training costs, reducing staff turnover and strengthening organizational resilience. It is concluded that in the modern business environment characterized by digital changes and globalization, strategic human resource development is becoming the main factor in ensuring competitive advantages of companies. The introduction of innovative technologies, in particular artificial intelligence algorithms, big data analytics and VR/AR tools, opens up new prospects for personalized learning, efficient recruitment and optimization of HR processes. At the same time, the spread of flexible employment models, such as remote and hybrid work, forms a new paradigm of labor relations that combines increasing productivity with ensuring a balance between the professional and personal needs of employees.

In order to rethink India's interactions with island nations in the Indo-Pacific, this paper combines small-state agency, maritime geopolitics, and strategic autonomy into a single relational paradigm. Analyses of India's Indo-Pacific strategy have mostly concentrated on continental balancing, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), or naval modernization, while previous research has mainly treated island states as passive locations of the US and China's great power competition. There is still a lack of theoretical understanding of the agency of island nations and the maritime spatial logic that underpins India's diplomacy. This article contends that while island states exercise insular agency by using geography, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and climate vulnerability to shape regional order, India's engagement with island nations represents an operationalization of maritime autonomy—a spatial extension of strategic autonomy. This article uses a hybrid methodological approach that combines doctrinal analysis and geopolitical mapping, drawing on the SAGAR doctrine, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) declarations, as well as International Relations theory on small states and regional order. The relationship architecture of the Indo-Pacific order is found to be constituted by India-island ties, which confuses the dichotomous narratives of the conflict between the United States and China. Island states serve as co-producers of marine governance, climate diplomacy, and regional stability in addition to being strategic nodes. The paper comes to the conclusion that in a multipolar Indo-Pacific, maritime autonomy provides an alternative paradigm of order-building when mediated through insular agency.

Purpose The present article investigates the theoretical orientations of public relations educators and their implications for public relations pedagogy. Building on previous research that revealed a lower perceived value of public relations higher education (HE) degrees compared to non-specialist degrees and professional training offered by member organisations, this study explores the theoretical perspectives of European public relations educators on dominant public relations paradigms, relevant theories and the most commonly used methodologies in public relations research. Design/methodology/approach The present study has an exploratory nature, as such a research study has not yet been conducted at the national or regional levels. In order to identify the public relations educators’ theoretical orientations, various data have been preliminarily collected from the study respondents through a questionnaire. For the first time in a research study, public relations practitioners who are hourly contracted by universities to teach on public relations degrees have been included in the survey. Lastly, we expanded the survey at the European level, as many of the previous studies have focused on a national level. Findings In terms of paradigmatic dominance, the normative understanding of public relations as management of communication is the most extended amongst our respondents, while we could see that critical and cultural perspectives of public relations are developed in media relations courses. The subsequent theory of the normative and functionalist paradigm, the excellence theory, is indeed the most taught by our respondents, with new terms such as “strategic communication” being currently proposed as a natural transition from public relations. Lastly, regarding the research methods being developed in academic research, interviews and case studies have emerged as the most used by our respondents. Such key findings are nuanced and then discussed from the perspective of the value of public relations higher education degrees. Originality/value Our article is an original contribution to the public relations and strategic communication scholarship, which investigates the institutional manifestations and subsequent pedagogies. We started from a critical national situation of public relations degrees discussed in a previous co-authored paper, where we enquired into the current dynamics in the United Kingdom, to then focus on public relations educators’ theoretical orientations in order to assess the quality of teaching within higher education degrees. Developing the present study at the European level is also a major contribution, as many previous studies have only presented national cases.

Purpose This research explores leadership within highly innovative organizational contexts, focusing on the challenges faced by leaders and the mindset required to navigate innovation and related paradigm shifts of this complex era. Specifically, it aims to assess the applicability and validity of a recently proposed leadership model in such innovative environments. Design/methodology/approach Following Action Research principle of combining research and practical intervention, this research used a two-phase qualitative design on a single case study of Zucchetti, the leading IT Italian company. Five focus groups with 76 senior managers and five in-depth interviews with top leaders (among which president and vice-presidents) have been combined with data collected from primary and secondary sources within the company as well as public information. Findings This work empirically validates a recent leadership model proposed in the literature (i.e. STP leadership) within an innovative context that is conductive to higher innovative performances, highlighting its applicability and relevance to modern business environments such as Zucchetti. However, the results suggest a necessary adjustment: the three dimensions of the model are not equally important. In particular, this study recognizes the “P” area (People) as the most critical and central dimension of the model, emphasizing its fundamental role in driving successful leadership and innovation practices. Furthermore, the study sheds light on the role of leadership in driving innovation by identifying, respectively, four key skills and four essential managerial approaches for leading innovation effectively. Practical implications The practical applications of this study are mainly threefold. First, investing in leadership development programs based on the STP model is critical to maintain a dominant position in the current scenario as well as to continuously innovate for an incumbent firm. Second, fostering an entrepreneurial, ambidextrous and flat leadership culture based on trust (with a strong delegation of authority system in place) at the middle-management level is a necessary condition for being continuously innovating. Third, orienting recruiting and career advancement strategies to skills like flexibility, authenticity, coaching and change management are key for improving an innovation culture. These actions aim to build leadership effectiveness, strengthen organizational resilience and drive sustainable innovation. Originality/value Through practice-based evidence, this research is valuable for both practitioners and scholars aiming to understand the role of efficient leaders in leading innovation given nowadays constraints and challenges. Furthermore, this study makes a significant contribution to the literature by utilizing a cutting-edge leadership model and adopting a cross-level approach that integrates insights from different and multilevel perspectives. Considering the viewpoints of diverse leadership levels (senior managers and top managers) with varying roles and backgrounds, this study offers a richer and more holistic understanding and gives the possibilities to understand alignments and discrepancies. Unlike previous research, which has analyzed findings in isolation, this work provides a more multidimensional comprehension of the phenomenon.

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The subject of this study is Cambodia's foreign policy in the context of its support for the Chinese initiative "One Belt, One Road." The author focuses on identifying the set of factors that determined the Cambodian leadership's decision to actively engage in the implementation of this large-scale infrastructure and economic project of the PRC. The article analyzes the historical prerequisites of Cambodian-Chinese relations, the peculiarities of Cambodia's geopolitical position in Southeast Asia, as well as the influence of the transformation of the regional and global balance of power on the foreign policy priorities of the kingdom. Special attention is given to the role of economic development, infrastructure modernization, and energy security as key national interests of Cambodia. The political context within the country is also considered, including the influence of anti-Vietnamese sentiments, intra-party competition, and socio-demographic factors on the formation of foreign policy decisions. Thus, the subject of the research encompasses both external and internal determinants of Cambodia's support for the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. The study employs a neorealist paradigm of international relations combined with a three-level model of foreign policy analysis and a systemic approach. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive examination of Cambodia's support for the "One Belt, One Road" initiative through the lens of the interconnection of systemic, national, and individual factors in foreign policy decision-making. Unlike researches that focus predominantly on economic benefits or the dependence of small states on China, the article demonstrates that Cambodia's position represents a rational strategy for a small state aimed at maximizing benefits in the face of competition from major international actors. The author concludes that Cambodia's participation in the OBOR initiative is determined not only by the need for infrastructure investments but also by the desire to strengthen foreign policy autonomy, reduce dependence on certain regional partners, and ensure internal political stability. At the same time, the study reveals structural limitations and potential risks of this course, including social stratification, limited engagement of the local economy in OBOR projects, and complications in relations with Western countries and Vietnam. The conclusion is drawn about the dual nature of the "Belt and Road" initiative for Cambodia, combining significant development opportunities with long-term political and socio-economic challenges.

The purpose of the research is to study the nature and features of the transformation of the modern world order, in particular the chaos, conflict and de-liberalization in international relations as its main characteristics. This issue has only been the subject of scientific research in a fragmentary manner and requires a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis. The research methodology is based on the scientific and systematic approach, principles of historicism, objectivity, the use of interdisciplinary and systemic approaches, neorealist and neoliberal paradigms of international relations and security approaches of the Copenhagen School, as well as the application of the variant concepts of VUCA and BANI to understand modern international processes. The scientific novelty lies in the actualization of the issues and a comprehensive analysis of the factors of destabilization of the post-bipolar system, the decline of the liberal international order and the growth of geopolitical instability, including under the influence of the full-scale phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Conclusions. In historical retrospect, the world order was determined by the potential and current configuration of the interaction of the centers of power following the results of wars, as well as international agreements between these centers on the principles and rules of interstate interactions and the resolution of conflict situations. The large-scale war of the Russian Federation against sovereign Ukraine, the imposition of sanctions and the international isolation of Russia, the change of geopolitical centers of influence prove the instability of the world order. It is manifested in the chaos, conflict-proneness and de-liberalization of modern international relations. The war in Ukraine has brought to the fore the issue of updating global governance, strengthening international law and developing new security mechanisms. The world does not need to return to the past, but to create a new order capable of combining efficiency, justice and flexibility of interactions in the field of international relations in response to the challenges of the 21st century. The application of the VUCA and BANI paradigms allows us to explain the nature of the post-liberal world order. It lacks not only a stable hierarchy and universal ideological consensus, but also any clear mechanisms for long-term stabilization. Therefore, in the near future, in the conditions of the post-liberal world order, competition is expected between several models of global governance: liberal (USA–EU), techno-authoritarian (China), neo-imperial (Russia), as well as a potential model of regional pluralism. Further research into the transformation of the modern world order should be aimed at analyzing tools for reducing structural fragility, reducing nonlinear risks, increasing the level of predictability in world politics, and forming effective regulatory mechanisms even for an unstable and conflict-prone international environment.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the transformation of the concept of the "unconscious" within the relational paradigm of modern psychotherapy. Relevance. Classical psychoanalysis viewed the unconscious as an intrapsychic formation isolated within the individual. In contrast, in the late 20th century, the "relational turn" led to a shift towards an intersubjective understanding of the psyche, in which unconscious processes are considered as co-created in the space of interaction between two people. This change in perspective raises the question of the methodological value of the updated concept of the unconscious for the theory and practice of psychotherapy. The purpose of the research is to reconstruct the evolution of ideas about the unconscious from the intra-personal model to the intersubjective one and to outline the theoretical, clinical, and methodological consequences of this shift. Methodology. The study employs theoretical analysis and synthesis of psychoanalytic literature; a historical-comparative review of concepts of the unconscious; and analysis of clinical examples reinterpreting therapeutic technique. Results. It is shown that the relational approach expands the concept of the unconscious: besides the "repressed within," it includes unconscious mutually conditioned processes between people – the so-called "relational unconscious." The change in perspective led to a rethinking of technique: psychotherapy is interpreted as a dialogue between two subjects, in which the unconscious manifests and transforms through interaction, not solely through interpretation by the analyst. Conclusions. The relational paradigm views the unconscious as a dynamic intersubjective process that combines the internal experience of the individual with the context of real relationships. This approach challenges the illusion of the analyst's complete neutrality and emphasizes the importance of mutuality and ethical reflection in the therapeutic space. Prospects. Further research should be directed towards developing empirical methods for studying the relational unconscious (e.g., analysis of nonverbal synchrony and "micro-processes" of dyadic coordination), assessing the impact of intersubjective factors on therapy outcome, and integrating neuroscientific data on unconscious emotional communication to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms of psychotherapeutic change.

Postulowana przez kulturoznawców i religioznawców perspektywa relacyjna, uwzględniająca inność, odmienność i szacunek wobec przedmiotu badań, który stanowi obce badaczowi dziedzictwo kulturowe lub jego depozytariusze, wymaga zaangażowania, kontaktu, owej relacji – najlepiej we właściwym środowisku eksplorowanego zagadnienia. Relacje międzykulturowe rozumiane w tym miejscu są jako interakcje zachodzące między przedstawicielami dwóch odmiennych kultur i/lub poznawczo-interpretacyjny kontakt w tym przypadku reprezentantów Zachodu z dziedzictwem japońskim. Miejscem tak definiowanego doświadczenia dla potrzeb niniejszego artykułu jest przestrzeń Kioto – miasta, które przez tysiąc lat było stolicą Japonii. Wprowadzeniem natomiast do eksploracji wybranych elementów dziedzictwa Kraju Kwitnącej Wiśni stała się dla autorów artykułu twórczość wybitnego japonisty, Alexa Kerra, zwłaszcza jego publikacja Inne Kioto. W artykule postawiono następujące pytania badawcze: 1) Które elementy dziedzictwa japońskiego zostały wybrane przez autora jako wymagające wyjaśnienia odbiorcy zachodniemu w Kioto? 2) W jaki sposób Alex Kerr zrealizował zadanie „przełożenia” elementów dziedzictwa japońskiego w Kioto odbiorcy spoza tego kręgu kulturowego? 3) Jak relacje międzykulturowe są zapośredniczone w dziedzictwie kulturowym? Odpowiedzi na powyższe pytania osadzone zostały w kontekście studiów kulturowych w paradygmacie relacji międzykulturowych, konstruowanych w pierwszej ich fazie poznaniem odmienności i podobieństw różniących się dwóch lub więcej kultur. Udzielono ich, przeprowadzając krytyczną analizę treści poszerzoną o badania pilotażowe w Kioto.

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in addressing planetary health; however, their proenvironmental behaviour (PEB) remains underexplored, particularly in Pakistan. The study aimed to assess healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding planetary health and the new ecological paradigm (NEP) and to determine the PEB of healthcare professionals. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from July to November 2024. A total of 307 healthcare professionals filled out a structured questionnaire. Spearman's correlation was used to assess the relationship between knowledge of planetary health and the NEP, as well as PEB. The mean age of participants was 40±11.4 years. Regarding knowledge, 238 (77.5%) of participants agreed that environmental problems have a direct impact on human health. The majority, 283 (92.2%), expressed their concern about climate change. Most respondents recognised the limits to Earth's resources (268; 87.3%), agreed that humans are abusing the environment (260; 84.7%) and expressed concern about ecological crises (280; 91.3%). Almost 85% (261 respondents) thought that encouraging sustainable healthcare practices is necessary for both present and future generations. PEBs included frequent recycling, conserving water and educating others about environmental impacts, as mentioned by 249 (81.1%) respondents. A highly significant, positive correlation was observed between participants' endorsement of the NEP and their PEB, specifically in 'day-to-day activities' (correlation coefficient=0.47, p value<0.001), as well as between NEP and attitude (correlation coefficient=0.45, p value<0.001). Knowledge about planetary health and the NEP has a positive influence on environmental attitudes and PEBs. Similarly, environmental attitudes have a positive impact on PEBs.

The churches and ecumenical organisations have largely failed in their response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the Russian Orthodox Church [ROC] openly legitimised the aggression, most churches hesitated to condemn it or severe ties, prioritising ecumenical diplomacy. This reluctance stems from naïve assumptions about the ROC, overconfidence in dialogue, and the overlap of ecclesial and political interests. This study examines the support of the ROC for the war and its ecumenical consequences, the response of the Catholic Church, and of the major ecumenical bodies (notably the WCC), arguing that during a war of aggression, placing ecumenical relations above truth, justice, and solidarity with the victim falls under the notion of “false irenicism” (UR 11), benefits the aggressor, weakens the pursuit of peace, and damages the credibility of the Churches. The old paradigms of ecumenical relations and ecclesial diplomacy – the Ostpolitik, neutrality, the myth of dialogue –, as well as pacifism at all costs, need to be revised. Article history: Received 25.11.2025; Revised 2.12.2025; Accepted 5.12.2025.Available online: 22.12.2025; Available print: 30.01.2026.